The Spring Classics have always been one of the most dangerous parts of the season – that's some of what makes these races in Northern Europe so iconic and alluring – but a number of high-profile crashes in the recent weeks and months have brought safety to the forefront of conversation, though opinions on the causes and solutions are mixed.
Just this week, several pile-ups at the men's Brugge-De Panne put a real stain on the race, with the road furniture in the final clearly not suited for a big bunch sprint. On Friday at E3 Saxo Classic, a race that is trying to be the safest race in Belgium, a big crash early on, in a seemingly innocuous spot, saw several riders injured and the whole race outcome impacted.
